Week 3 Mongolia here we come!

The week started with a pile of luggage loaded and ready to go.  Three of the grandkids wanted to make sure we didn't forget anything.  Thanks Ivy Mae for the help loading.

Off we ventured, however, the roles have reversed a bit.  It was 17 years almost to the day that we did the same thing for our now, chauffeur.  My how time flies.  Couldn't be happier and grateful for our children and their support and love, making this possible.  Thanks to Papa G for his love and understanding and supportive conversation as we said goodbye.

Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Seoul to Ulaanbaatar.  The eyes were getting smaller at each stop.  It took us around 31 hours to get to Mongolia.  We didn't have a Tuesday this week.  Sorry Tyson, we'll catch you when we get back and we can have your birthday two days in a row.  Gathering the luggage was a treat and yes there are two full carts.  You never know what you might need in the coldest capital city in the world.  Bishop J Gor was a gracious host and chauffeur.  He even had Burger King waiting for us.  The traffic is horrendous (more on that later). Welcome to Ulaanbaatar Mongolia.

The apartment is nice and is on the 11th floor of a newer building.  The surrounding buildings are very much X-soviet era.  Did I mention that the traffic is horrendous? (more on that later)  

We had a wonderful night with our amazing Mission Leaders, the Namgur's, and their awesome boys.  We are looking forward to getting to know them better as we serve with them.

We walk everywhere we go.  You wouldn't believe how horrendous the traffic is (more on that later).  We spent the first couple of days unpacking and organizing the apartment and tried to keep our eyes open.  We are slowly adjusting to the time difference, slowly is the key there.  We had our P-Day and loved spending it with the Butler's.  New friends from Montana, serving as Humanitarian Missionaries.  They showed us the finer points of navigating the city using the bus (that's another story).  It's easier to walk because the traffic is so horrendous (more on that later).  We stopped a Sukhbaatar Square for the photo.  Kind of in the middle of the city.  Chinggis Khaan memorials everywhere.

We walked to church, about 20 minutes, mainly because the traffic is so horrendous (more on that later). We attended all 3 of the Wards that meet here in the Bayanzurkh (BZ) building and met many wonderful people.  This is our new friend.  He is a funny and delightful 8-year-old.  We google translated back and forth and at one point I ask a question without it and his answer was in perfect English, who knew.  He just likes the phone; they all have them and are very proficient in their use.  Typical kid.

Overall, it's been an awesome, exhausting and rewarding week.